Acura GTP Program Concludes After Petit Le Mans Pole

Acura will conclude its IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTP program following the 2026 season-ending Petit Le Mans race. This announcement comes as the Acura Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian team achieved a front-row lockout in qualifying for the final event at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

This marks a significant moment for Acura in motorsports, as the manufacturer prepares to pause its involvement in the GTP category after tomorrow's race. The team's strong qualifying performance sets the stage for a competitive farewell to the series.

Qualifying Dominance at Road Atlanta

Tom Blomqvist secured pole position in the #60 Acura ARX-06, marking his second consecutive pole of the season and the third in a row for Acura. This achievement also represents Blomqvist's second straight pole at Petit Le Mans, having also started first in the 2025 edition of the race. He will be joined by co-drivers Colin Braun and six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon for the main event.

Nick Yelloly completed the front-row sweep for Acura, qualifying the #93 Acura MSR machine in second place. This is the second time this season Acura has locked out the front row, following a similar 1-2 qualifying result earlier in the year at Road America. Yelloly, along with co-drivers Renger van der Zande and five-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou, will compete with a special 'Thank You' livery, honoring Acura's history and successes in IMSA.

This pole position is the 45th for Acura in IMSA since the brand rejoined the series in 2017. Blomqvist expressed satisfaction with the team's 1-2 qualifying result and pole position, noting the collective effort to overcome a challenging previous day. Yelloly also acknowledged the strong team performance, expressing mixed emotions about the program's impending conclusion while highlighting the strategic advantage of starting P2.

The Conclusion of Acura's GTP Effort

The decision to pause the Acura IMSA program ends its current chapter in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship's top-tier GTP class. The final race of the 2026 season at Petit Le Mans will be the last opportunity for the Acura ARX-06 prototypes to compete under the current program structure.

This conclusion comes after a period of significant achievement for Acura in the series, including numerous victories and pole positions. The 'Thank You' livery on the #93 car serves as a tribute to the teams, drivers, and the overall success Acura has experienced in IMSA racing.

How to Watch the Final Race

Fans can watch the 2026 Petit Le Mans live on Saturday, October 3rd. NBC will broadcast the race from 12-3 PM ET, with continuing coverage available on NBCSN from 3-10:30 PM ET. Flag-to-flag coverage will also be accessible via NBC Peacock.

International viewers can follow the action on IMSA's YouTube channel, while Radio Le Mans will provide live flag-to-flag audio coverage through IMSA.com.

The conclusion of the Acura IMSA program ends a notable era for the manufacturer in sports car racing. While the GTP program is pausing, Acura's legacy of performance and engineering in motorsports remains a significant part of its brand identity.